Learning Theory PresentationVeronica Smith

Carson Summers

Matthew Wimberly

Behaviorism

Came into popularity during the Industrial Revolution

Popularized by scientific research into animals

Two distinct methods of conditioning

Classic conditioning – using reflexes found in nature

Operant conditioning – introducing new reflexes through reinforcement

Key Points of Behaviorism

No difference between people and animals – both learn based on reinforcement

Conditioning is the center of learning

Behavior is shaped through praise/punishment for certain responses

Creativity and independent thinking are not important to teaching

Ivan Pavlov

(1849-1936)

Famous for classic conditioning

Trained a dog to salivate when it heard a bell ring

Research based on reflexes found in nature

John Watson

(1878-1958)

Famous for “Little Albert” experiment

Conditioned an 18 month old boy to fear rats

“Give me a dozen healthy infants…and I’ll guarantee to take any one at random and train him to be any type of specialist I might select…”

B.F. Skinner

(1904-1990)

Famous for the ‘Skinner Box’

Experimented with operant conditioning on rats and pigeons

Taught the pigeons how to bowl through operant conditioning

Classroom Implications

Reward charts and systems are considered effective methods of reinforcement under behaviorism.

Can also be applied to classroom control – ringing a bell or turning off the lights to quiet kids down, for example.

To utilize technology with this approach, students could be rewarded with technology-enhanced lessons in order to reinforce good behavior.

We think that behaviorism…

Can be useful at a young age to teach skills that are fundamental to the schooling environment

For instance, not throwing things and keeping quiet

Can also be effective for students with behavioral issues

May not be as effective when students move on to more difficult concepts than basic behavior

Creative thinking and reasoning are not a part of a behaviorist approach

Citations

Pavlov’s Dogs and Conditioning in People charts: http://www.nobelprize.org/educational/medicine/pavlov/readmore.html

Ivan Pavlov: http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/1904/pavlov-bio.html

John Watson: http://psychology.about.com/od/profilesofmajorthinkers/p/watson.htm

http://theoretical-psychology.blogspot.com/2011/09/mainstream-psychology.html

B. F. Skinner: http://www.bfskinner.org/BFSkinner/AboutSkinner.html